Continuing our annual round-up where we ask our industry friends about the lessons and words from 2022 and what they are looking forward to in the new year, as well as the words they will embrace in the new year.
Kerry Healy, Chief Commercial Officer, Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea at Accor
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
Resilient
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
Desire and need to travel is stronger than ever before.
Best trip of 2022 – why
Japan – so good to be back and finally open again to business
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
Sustained Transformation
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
7
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Localised approach and alignment of functions.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
Increase of airline capacity and of course if China resumes earlier than Q3.
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Time starved like most. More time to visit our teams in country. I love being connected to the teams.
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
Alternative payment & digital wallet. Especially in this part of the world with many different local payment methods from one country to another. It’s a fact that fewer guests have cash in their wallets, but they also expect to be able to pay for their hotel rooms with more than a standard credit card. So any tech that enable us to deliver on these new consumer payment preferences are key to keep an eye on – especially when it comes to mobile payments and digital wallets when most of our bookings are now coming from the app
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
Possibilities.
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
Bhutan
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach
Timothy Hughes, Vice President, Corporate Development, Agoda
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
#WeMadeIT
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
That travel can survive anything
Best trip of 2022 – why
Sicily! The food. It is Italian but not as you know it.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
#AsiaIsBack
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
9
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Recruiting
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
Responding to the customer’s desire for more flexibility and options
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Networking
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
This AI GPT is crazy, amazing, powerful!
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
#CheaperAirFares
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
Bhutan
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
The Caesars Palace Coup by Max Frumes.
Kei Shibata, CEO, Venture Republic/Trip101
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
Resilience
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
Sustainability as a default
Best trip of 2022 – why
A four-week stay in Niseko, Japan for powder snowboarding. While sad for the industry, with the absence of foreign visitors, the amazing powder snow there was all mine.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
Delicate
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
7
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Localization of our Trip101 content for capturing the growth of short-term rental market in Asia and the rest of world.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
Opportunity in the TMC space in Japan for our “TRAVEL jp for Business”
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Investing in technology and products
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
AI
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
Growth
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
Trip to New England, United States in fall for my graduate school’s reunion
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
Harvard Business Review – “How ‘Digital Nomad’ Visas Can Boost Local Economies” by Prithwiraj (Raj) Choudhury
Key takeaways:
- There are more than 40 countries in the world that offer a digital nomad visa programme. And we keep counting them.
- Digital nomads can be a boon to any economy — they are not just spending money but also facilitating collaboration and spurring innovation.
Chan Chee Chong, CEO & Co-founder, GlobalTix
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
Light (It’s the end of tunnel with new ideas!)
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
Importance of localisation. One will only truly understand the local culture if you are immerse in it. That helps in both strategizing as well as implementation of business plans.
Best trip of 2022 – why
Trip to Jeju island with my parents and family. As it was their first trip post-Covid, it felt like our first holiday together. Everyone was excited.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
Growth.
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
7. Optimistic – the only worry is recession and inflation. Asia will get the revenge travel that America and Europe had been experiencing in 2022.
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Focus on the customers. Nimble to changes.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
It’s the era of Tours and Activities. With technology adoption in this vertical spiking and source market advertising gaining importance, Tours and Activities will be playing a significant role in all tourism companies.
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Mentor and upskilling of our colleagues especially regional offices.
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
Chat and Payment Technology
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
Alignment. (As we expand rapidly, team alignment is important)
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
Japan Hiking Trip! (If possible)
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
Elon Musk and his stories
David Peller, Executive Vice President, Yanolja Cloud
Looking back – one word to describe 2022
Breathless.
The biggest lesson you learnt from 2022
After 2+ years of video-calls, nothing beats being together, in person, with friends, colleagues, customers, and partners.
Best trip of 2022 – why
Early June, to Seoul, South Korea, to kick-start my journey with Yanolja Cloud.
Looking forward – one word to describe 2023
Eventful.
On a scale of 1-10, rate how optimistic (10 being most) how you feel about 2023?
8
What’s the one key thing you’re doing to prepare your business for whatever lies ahead?
Hiring. While others might be adjusting their plans, Yanolja Cloud is investing in its global business – and that starts with building a world-class leadership team. People are the foundation of our business.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business in 2023?
Accelerating the digitization and transformation of the global travel and hospitality industry. It’s still early days, though we’re certain 2023 will mark an important milestone on the journey.
What part of your job would you like to do more of in 2023?
Fostering partnerships and collaborations across the interconnected travel and hospitality ecosystem.
What’s the most exciting new tech you’re keeping your eye on?
Verified identity.
What’s the one word you’d like to embrace for 2023?
Travel.
The (holiday) trip you’re most anticipating in 2023
Cempedak Island. Thank you Andrew D.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or watched that you might not have otherwise?
Squid Game. It had to be Korean.
